Tube severing mechanism



May 30, 1933. J. BALTON TUBE SEVERING MECHANISM Original Filed June 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l llll Jizme s EaZZm u May 30, 1933. J BALTQN 1,911,297

TUBE SEVERING MECHANISM Original Filed June 22, 1952 2 Sheets- -Sheet 2 (754mm 30 Zian Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES TENT- OFFICE BALTIMORE,

MARYLAND T111333 snvnnme MECHANISM Original application filed June 22, 1932, Serial No. 618,759. Divided, and this applicationbfiled January 311,

1923. Serial No. 654,507.

a My invention relates to machines for making spirally wound straws and other tubes from paper strips and especially relates to the tube severing mechanism of such. ma-

chines. i

Primarily the invention has for its object to provide a new and improved severing mechanism by the use of which'the expense of manufacture of the machines is greatly reduced, their efficiency increased, and maintenance charges greatly reduced, in virtue of which the cost of manufacturing tubes is reduced considerably and a cleaner and more uniform cut of the tube stock is obtained. i 1

Further it is an object to provide a cutting mechanism which cuts the spinning tube, as it is being formed, into lengths of uniform degree and to provide a cutting mechanism 29 of a simple construction whose blade will not materiallyinash or flatten the cut ends of the tube; a cutting mechanism inwhich the cutting blade may be of wafer steel and be readily replaceable when worn.

Further, it is an object to provide a cu ting mechanism in which the rotation or spinning of the straw is utilized to assist the cutting act in such cooperation with the peculiar cutting blade and the straw guide as to obtain the benefit of both a shear and a wedge cut.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cutting mechanism unit. Figure 2 is a plan view of the same with the cover removed.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on approxi- 59 mately the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

ure 8.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section ofthe cutting device spindle,=etc.

Figure 6. is an enlarged detail View show.-: ing the action of the knife blade on, the straw. -L l Figure 7 is a detail'perspective view of one of the knife blades. 2

Figure 8 is a detail horizontalsection on the line 88 of Figure Figure 9 is a detailelevatiolu of a portion of the sleeve with a straw in place at the instant the cut-has been completed.

Figure 10 is 'a plan of an alternative straw guide device for that shown in Fig- In the drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, 4 is the mainshaft of the tube mak-v ing machine and 8 are bearings therefor, carried by the bed 1 of the machine.

The straw cutting mechanism includes a housing 104 which is securely bolted tothe bed 1 of the machine and is provided with a removable cover 105.

The housing has its base portion provided with a ring gear receiving recess 106 and a turntable receiving counter recess 107, there, being a ringg-ear 108 secured in the recess 106 and a turntable 109 mounted in the base recess 107. The turntable'109 is pinned to and carries the vertical shaft 110 which is mounted in the bed 1 with asuitable antifriction bearing assembly 111 and is driven from the main shaft 4 by means of bevelled gears 112, see Figure 1. The turntable carries a post 118 which is bifurcated and is' provided with cutter shaft bearing bushings 114,

115 is a cutter spindle that has a disk 116 against which the cutter carrying plate- Y is clamped by means of a clamp disk 117 and a clamp screw shaft 118 that is thread ingly connected at 119 to the spindle 115. The cutter carrying plate, which may be a disk or simply an arm, carries the cutter 95 blade which, in my present invention, is of 'a peouliar construction and designed for very definite purpose and mode of operation. It is bifurcated as at 121 so that it may be ad usted substantially radial on the cutter carrier plate 120 where it is held by means of suitable clamp screws 122, the screws 122 being threaded through the plate and through reinforcing blocks, and the ends so passed are preferably slightly upset so that the screws may be loosenedbut not wholly withdrawn from. the plate, thereby preventing the screws dropping down into the mechanism when it is desired that they be loosened for the purpose of adjusting and replacing the cutter blade.

The cutter blade is made of thin wafer steel and has two concavedbevelled edges 123and 124 defining between them a long cutting point 125 that is needle-like in its appearance and serves to puncture the straw at the instant the cutting blade engages the same, the cutting blade passing through the straw as a wedge with sharpened edges, it being understood that the straw is rotated at the time the cutting blade is in engagement with it, and the movement of the cutting blade as a wedge together with the rotation of the straw'effects a very clean out without materially flattening thecut ends of the straw. I

The cutter is rotated on its axis by means of a vertical shaft 126 that carries the gear 127 which meshes with the ring gear 108. It also is connected by means of bevelled gears 128 with a horiZontalshaft 129 that drives the cutter shaft through the medium of a gear train 13013 132 is a turntable gear and cutter protector turret sleeve which is detachably secured to the post 113, the housing and the sleeve being provided with suitable windows 133 and 134 for access to the clamp screw shaft 113. The sleeve has slots 135 for the passage of the cutter blade.

So far as described, it will be noted that rotation of the turntable 109 imparts a movement of the cutter plate 120 about a vertical axis in its own plane and at the same time by virtue of the power transmitting connection 108126127128-129 130 131, a rotary motion of the plate with the cutter on its own axis is effected. Thus at predetermined intervals the cutter blade is passed through one of the slots 135 and brought into contact with the straws to be out while at the same time moving with the straws so as not to retard its passage through the machine. I

The sleeve 132 is provided with a. straw guiding annular groove 1361 the purpose of which will soon appear. The sleeve is se cured to the turntable post by screws 137 as indicated in Figure 4.

138 is the straw receiving horn which is mounted in the socket 139 of the housing 104 and is adjustably secured in place by a set screw 140, the object being to locate its discharge end as close as possible to the sleeve 132.

Cooperating with the annular straw guide groove 136 is a roller carrying block 141 that is provided with rollers 142 (which may be concaved if desired) and is secured by a screw 146 to the lug 143 on the insideof the housing 104.

T he groove 136 may be made deeper in a vertical direction than the diameter of the straw but is of approximately the same depth in a horizontal direction as the diam.- cter of the straw, the purpose of this being to enable the end of the straw which leaves the horn to enter the groove 136 without catching on the upper or lower portion of the wall. WV hen, however, the straw is to be cut it is advisable, if not absolutely necessary, to provide a means to prevent the straw being bent-or deflected from the path of moven'ie'nt, or in other words to provide an anvil against which the straw can be cut. This is accomplished when the groove 136 is of the greater depth mentioned by providing in the groove 136 straw holding plate segments 144 whose ends 145 are bevelled. These plate segments are arranged one at each side of the slot through which the knife is passed in the cutting position so that when the knife comes up under the straw the straw will be lying against the segments 144 and will not be deflected upwardly on of its true path of movement. t the same time the remainder of the groove 136 is left wide enough for the end of a newly formed straw to enter without catching.

In order that the cut off section of the straw may not impede the progress of the next section and in order that the cut off section of the straw may be ejected] from the machine, I provide a vertical grooved straw guide wheel 147 on a shaft 148 journalled in a bearing lug 149 in the housing 104. A vertical shaft 150 is journalled in bearings 151 in the housing 104 and is connected with the shaft 148 by bevelled gears 152. The shaft 150 has a gear 153 which meshes with a master gear 145 keyed to and turned with the shaft 110. Thus the turning of the turntable also effects the turning of the ejecting wheel 14?.

The housing 104 may be provided with windows 154 to discharge paper dust or other dust which may tend to accumulate in the housing.

It should'be understood that the knife is geared up to turn at a very rapid speed and the movement of the turntable is such that the knife is carried along with the straw at not less than the lineal speed of the straw, while the pulley 147 is preferably turned at a slightly greater speed than that of the straw so that at the very instant the straw length has been fully severed it will be shot from the machine into a suitable receptacle not shown.

In Figure 10 is shown another way to AL-u from the machine.

The present application is a division ofmy application, Serial No. 618,7 59, filed June 22, 1932.

\Vhat Iclaim is:

1. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined length; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within theturret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, rotatable means located outside of said groove for guiding the tube in the groove at each side of the place where the tube is to be cut, and means to operate said cutter and turret. i

2. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path. of'

a tube to be 'cut thereby, said turret being rad ally slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersect-lug said slot, said groove being of greater vertical depth than the diameter of the tube,

and tube holding segments on the horizontal wall of the groove against which the blade forces the tube during the act of cutting it, and means to operate said cutter and turret.

In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turretbeing radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and ha ing an annular groove intersecting said slot, said groove being of greater vertical depth than the diameter of the tube, tube holding segments on the horizontal wall of the groove against which the blade forces the tube during the act of cutting it, and

means to operate said cutter and turret, and

rotatable means located outside of said groove for guiding the tube'in the groove ateach side of the place where the tube is being cut.

4-. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a rotata le turret having a vertical slot, drive gearing, a rotatable blade actuated by said gearing and adapted to be periodically carriedoutwardly through said slot and brought into the path of theutube to be cut thereby,said turret having ahorizontal annular groove intersecting said slot to'pass the tube tangentially to the inner wall oi": the groove, a pair of spaced fixedly located guiderollers adjacent the periphery of the turret and overlying said groove.

In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined length; a tube cutting unit comprising a. rotatable turret having a vertical slot, drive gearing, a rotatableblade actuated by said gearing and adapted to be periodically carried. outwardly through said slot and brought into the path of the tube to be cut thereby, said turret havinga horizontal annular groove intersecting said slot to pass the tube tangentially to the inner wall of the groove, a pair of spaced fixedly located guide rollers adjacent the periphery of the turret and overlying said groove, said rollers being concaved and held in rolling contact with the turret.

means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a rotatable turret having a vertical slot, drive gearing, a rotatable blade actuated by said gearing'and adapted to be periodically carried outwardly through said slot and brought into the path of the tube to be cut thereby, said turret having a horizonal annular groove intersecting said slot to pass the tube tangentially tothe inner wall of the groove, a pair of spaced fixedly located guide rollers adjacent the periphery of the turret and overlying said groove, said annular groove beingoi greater height vertically than the diameter of the tube, and tube holding plate segments in said groove against which the blade tends to force the tube while being cut.

7. In a tube machine wherein isyprovided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a rotatable turet having a vertical slot, drive gearing, a rotatable blade actuated by said gearing and adapted to be periodically carried outwardly through said slot and lnrought into the path of the tube to be cut thereby, said turret having located guide rollers adjacent the periphery of the turret and overlying said groove, said annular groove being of greater height vertically than the diameter of the tube, and tube holding plate segments in said groove against which the blade tends to force the tube while being cut, said rollers being concaved'and held in rolling contact with the turret.

8. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be eut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, said blade having a pointed, penetrating portion sharpened atboth sides of the point giving diverging cutting edges in the plane of the knife.

9. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means Within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, said blade comprising a thin wafer-like body and a sharpened V- shaped cutting edge giving divering cutting edges in the plane of the knife, said knife Eeing mounted so as to enter the tube point rst.

10. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting.

unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, rotatable means located outside of said groove for guiding the tube in the groove at each side of the place where the tube is to be cut, and means to operate said cutter and turret, and a rotatable guide at the outgoing side of the unit adjacent the turret for receiving the cut tubes and discharging them from the unit, and means to drive said rotatable guide in timed relation to the rotation of the turret and blade.

11; In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and cutting paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, said blade having a pointed, penetrating portion sharpened a both sides of the point, and a rotatable guide at the outgoing side of the unit adjacent the turret for receiving the cut tubes and discharging them from the unit, and means to drive said rotatable guide in timed relation to the rotation of the turret and blade.

12. In a tube machine wherein is pro vided means for spinning and gluing paper the same into predetermined lengths, a tube cutting unit, comprising a stationary housing, aturret within the housing and rotatable on a vertical-axis, means to rotate the turret on its axis, said turret including a turntable having a shaft, and a bifurcated turntable post, a cutter includinga shaft rotatably journalled in hearings in said post and also including a body rotatable with the shaft on a horizontal axis, a cutting blade secured to said body, a second shaft journalled horizontally in bearings in said turntable, gears connecting said second and third shafts, and gears connecting said second shaft and said cutter shaft, and means operable by rotation of the turret for driving said third shaft, a sleeve embracing said turntable post and the parts mounted-thereon, means securing said sleeve to the turntable, said sleeve having vertical blade passes, and means cooperating with said sleeve to hold a passing tube from bending while being cut, said last named means comprising a horizontal groove in the sleeve and a pair of spaced guiderollers carried by the housing and cooperating with said. hori zontally grooved sleeve to constitute a tube pass, the blade acting to cut the tube when in alignment with the space between said guide rollers.

13. In a straw machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths, a tube cutting unit, comprising a stationary housing, a turret within the housing and rotatable on a vertical axis, means to rotate the turret on its axis, said turret including a turntable having a shaft, and a bifurcated turntable post, a cutter including a shaft rotatably 'journalled in hearings in said. post and also including a body rotatable with the shaft on a horizontal axis, a cutting blade secured to said body, a second shaft journailed horizontally in bearings in said turntable, gears connecting said second and third shafts, and gears connecting said second shaft and said cutter shaft, and means operable by rotation of the turret for driving said third shaft, a sleeve embracing said strips into a continuous tube and severing turntable post and the parts mounted thereon, means securing said sleeve to the turntable, said sleeve having vertical blade passes, and means cooperating with said sleeve to hold a passing tube from bending while being out, said last named means comprising a horizontal groove in the sleeveand at least one guide roller associated therewith to constitute a tube pass, and a'straw guide wheel to deliver the cut tube length from the machine, and means operable in timed relation to the rotation of the turret and action of the blade for operating said guide wheel.

14. In a tube machine Wherein'is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, means located outsidesaid groove toward the outgoing side of the same for guiding the tube after it has passed the blade.

15. In a tube machine wherein is provided means for spinning and gluing paper strips into a continuous tube and severing the same into predetermined lengths; a tube cutting unit comprising a turret, cutting means within the turret including a blade adapted to be periodically carried into the path of a tube to be cut thereby, said turret being radially slotted to permit passage of said blade and having an annular groove intersecting said slot, said blade comprising a thin waferlike -member having a sharpened V-shaped cutting portion giving diverging cutting edges in the plane of the knife, said cutting portion being provided with a needle-like penetrating point to pierce and cut the tube and hold the tube within the groove while it is being out.

JAMES BALTON. 

